Introduction
The current and past movement of the human race from one region to another is one development that calls for our attention in this era of globalization. For the purpose of this assignment, I will describe it using two terms; Diasporic and transnational movements which are expounded in the assignment.
The diasporic movement has been used to refer to the progress of Africans as well as their offspring or children to various places throughout the entire world especially in America, the Middle East, and Europe. Africans also dispersed to America by migrating, it is estimated that about forty million African – Americans were migrated to the United States of America. This kind of movement took place before World War II and the main reason was for the immigrants to provide forced labor. The ship was the only mode of transportation across the ocean, the movement of people then was forceful.
Transnational Movement
The transnational movement has been defined as the progress or movement of people from one country to another. The latter is usually perceived to be more developed than the latter. The reasons for the movement include; looking for job opportunities as immigrants or expatriates, escaping forced displacement due to civil unrest. The flow of people via transnational migrations, capital flow, and information flow over very large distances thanks to the modern development in communication (Swain, 2007). Even though the migrants invest economically, socially, and politically in their new society, they still go on with taking similar actions in their country of origin. In this form of movement, the human race moved voluntarily.
It’s worth noting that in both types of movement, the affected individuals eventually form diaspora communities this is according to Daedalus et al (2000). This concept of diaspora has brought with it a number of characteristics which include; development of global cities as a result of intensified interaction between various sections of the world economy, development of cosmopolitan and local culture, deterritorialization of social identity, world economy.
Diasporas
Globalization and the concept of the diaspora have made the human race understand that they are similar having same needs and aspirations, there is worldwide interdependence in terms of economics, ecological aspects, political well as technology-wise, the earth is a single place thus one world and finally knowledge, goods, services, communications, crime, pollutants, fashion, beliefs among other human attributes are getting across a territorial boundary. All these leave the human race to be in a discrete world with shared values, structures, and processes. The aspects of bearing to diaspora mentioned earlier have in various ways opened up new opportunities for the emergence of diasporas, continued existence as well as flourishing (Cohen, 1997).
Human Migration
According to Cohen (1997), globalization and diaspora are distinct but go together. miller and castles (1993) recognize that modern human migration is constant and they have identified four trends characterizing migration as being globalization, accelerating of migration (increase of those who migrate), differentiation and feminization (increased proportion of women who take part in migration). Nina G acknowledges three phases of relationship between transnational movement and nation state building. In the first phase immigrants played a role in consolidation and building of their country of origin. It was in the 19th century that uneven demand for labor was experienced leading to seasonal migration that helped raise cash to help elevate living standard.
Effect of Growth of technology
Later with the growth in technology telegram and steamship were developed, this prompted people to start looking for funds in America to invest back in their countries and residing more or less on a permanent basis. Immigrants in us lived in a manner that they maximized on saving that would later be sending home. When they were joined by family members, the money remitted started to be smaller.
They also took part in ensuring that public infrastructures in their country of origin were improved. Most of the immigrant expected life to be good in us but jobs were seasonal, low wages and very high cost of living, no provision for the sick disabled, the only solace was social support form home (Tambiah, 2000). Most of the immigrant planned to go back for this reason they maintained good relationship with those at home by constant communication. Later us legitimize the existence of immigrants and made people understand that they are of one state.
It worth noting that migration was being encouraged, and those migrant who had gone back were persuaded to come back and their incorporation polarized nationalism. Countries such as Italy wanted their citizen back citing poor working condition, discrimination and mistreatment. The governments that had their citizen in us made efforts to recognize and help them and vice versa hence the concept of territoriality and nationalism arose.
Spread of Nationalism
Nationalism was spread via various ways, poems, newspapers trying to make immigrant have in mind that they were responsible in building their home and eventually visiting it. Immigrant found themselves to be insecure in terms of economy and being socially marginalized. They also returned home and took part in wars trying to save their country of origin. skin color determined if one got the chance to naturally be an American as ‘whites’ got such opportunities (naturalization law of 1790), immigrants continued to struggle in distinguishing themselves from black. Most of them took part in politics and other ventures (Americanization). Politicians sort to organizing immigrants into distinct and separate nationality necessary in curbing bad blood among employees (Huschman & Kasinitz, 1999).
In the second phase, significant changes in terms of politics and economy occurred but immigrant relationship and their countries of origin still prevailed. Development of cold war significantly changed things. Each state had a territory, nationality and culture, with defined boundaries migration then became strange, most nation states then tended to believe that migration did not take place. This compelled people to be loyal to one country. From 1950s employees were to take loyalty oath to get or retain jobs. immigrant continued to maintain ties with their relatives, but in the national politics, nationality was replaced by ethnic grouping as cultural pluralism got more community credit, eventually with time immigrant ties with their relatives was rendered invisible.
Celebration of Cultural Pluralism
During this period of celebrating cultural pluralism, new set of immigrant set their foot to United States of America. What propelled their movement was similar to those that created previous migration of the 19th century. The entire process led to capital accumulation, disrupting local economies as well as encouraging further migration to us as more people left their countries to search for opportunities elsewhere. The idea of devaluing national currencies made life very unbearable as those who had money were at an advantage as they could afford to pay for them or simply flee (Castles & Miller, 1993).
Personal hope of having a better life overseas and the desire to provide money to family members to better their lives fuel migration. The incentives provided to immigrants in us were no more, hence immigrant were not fully incorporated. Economic restructuring in us made jobs to be seasonal, low income, absent med care and public welfare. All these problems faced between 1970s and 1980s made political leaders turn there disappointment to immigrants.
Laws were passed requiring employers to establish the legality of immigrant employees; this made their jobs less secure. Some laws made it extremely difficult for immigrant to support their relatives as well as lacking permanent resident status. Despite all these problems, most of them played a role in setting up transnational networks. The immigrant were still racialized and marginalized just as those who preceded them.
Immigrants were considered to be outsiders and were made to choose between their country of origin and the new one. They were considered to be traitors, inauthentic and political suspects despite their efforts to remit money and other goodies back home as a result of political opposition between them and their government.
The third phase, restructuring of world capitalism and reconstruction of nation-states revolves around globalization. Citizen and political leaders of various nation-states are trying to go beyond their territories reincorporate emigrants and their descendants. Its worth to note that the relationship between emigrant and their country of origin has been revived and it’s new.
Conclusions
Most emigrant sending nation-states are reviewing their policies, laws as well as ideologies to seriously consider their population living in the overseas. Immigrant receiving countries have put forward proposal considering multiculturalism that recognize immigrants root. just like in the past two phases the sending countries’ Politian’s have organizations they claim represent their population living in us as the immigrant are publicly proclaim being loyal to their country of origin (Roger, 2004). In short, states are being reorganized; politics, citizenship as well as the idea of a nation are being reconstituted.
Emigrants at this point in time do not go to fight in the quest of helping their countries or build the nation; on the other hand them visiting their country as tourist is of vital importance. Family members left behind expect the emigrants to send them money and other goods although they are permanent resident of the receiving country. most transmigrates actively take part in us politics, are encourage by their homeland government and have been incorporated in most of all activities in their ancestral land some offered dual nationality and or citizenship. The issue of racial discrimination is no more in existence as every one is considered an American.
References
Castles, S & Miller, M. (1993). The Age Of Migration: International Population Movements In The Modern World. New York: The Guilford Press.
Cohen, R. (1997). Global Diasporas: An Introduction. Seattle: University Of Washington Press.
Huschman, C & Kasinitz, P. (1999). Handbook of International Immigration: Transmigrants and Natio-States; Something Old and Something New in the U.S. Migrant Experience Russell Sage New York : Foundation Publications (pg 94-116).
Roger, D. (2004). Guarding the Golden Door. New York: Hill and Wang.
Swain, C. (2007). Debating Immigration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tambiah, D. (2000). Transnational Movements, Diaspora, and Multiple Modernties. Web.